DEARBORN - Speaking in Dearborn for the first time since her sister, University of Michigan graduate and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement Huwaida Arraf, was located and found to be safe in Israel following the Gaza humanitarian aid flotilla attacks, Mariam Arraf told a gathered crowd of about 150 people at Dearborn City Hall on Thursday night that the fight to educate people about the raid is only just beginning.“Because my sister is not able to communicate right now and to tell her story, I have taken over that responsibility from her and continued to tell the media what happened,” she said.Mariam Arraf said that people should fight to keep the story of the flotilla raid relevant in the local media by writing and calling local newspapers, TV, and radio stations.“I talked to a reporter from the Detroit News and he told me to tell you to keep writing. He said ‘If you write us and give us the news, we’ll write about it.”She added that Palestine supporters should expect a strong public relations campaign from the Israeli side and said and that a similar response by pro-Palestinians is of the utmost importance.“The Israelis have a wonderful PR team and we all know that,” she said. “They kept members of the flotilla’s crew detained so that they wouldn’t be able to speak to the media. That’s why we have to speak up for them.”Also speaking at the vigil were Andrew Dalack of the U.S. Social Forum, a massive upcoming five-day gathering of activists in downtown Detroit starting on June 22, and Falasteen Tambora, a 15-year-old girl from Gaza who came to Detroit for surgery after being shot in the leg while seeking shelter from Israeli bombs in a UN school.Dalack encouraged those in attendance to sign up for the Palestine track (featuring demonstrations, networking, and planning for ways to help end the siege) of the Social Forum by visiting ussf2010.org.Tambora spoke in Arabic and received a warm ovation from the crowd in recognition of her bravery.A performance from local hip hop artist Big A also pumped up the crowd as the Dearborn resident encouraged them to boycott Israeli products and push for divestment at the local level. Following the speeches, the gathered crowd, which was dressed in black in remembrance of the victims, marched down Michigan Avenue carrying lighted candles to the area in front of Amani’s Restaurant in order to become more visible to passing traffic.Mariam Arraf also described the scene on the ship as told by her sister.“Her husband Adam (Shapiro) said that Huwaida was just screaming ‘We are unarmed civilians! We are unarmed civilians!” Mariam Arraf said.“She was aboard the Challenger I ship which they didn’t use lethal force against, but Huwaida said that the soldiers were shooting at crew members with rubber bullets.“About 50 were injured and she heard explosions and saw blood everywhere.”Huwaida Arraf also told her that she was thrown out of a moving vehicle, which knocked her unconscious, and that she was taken to a prison before finally being released.Mariam Arraf emphasized the importance of keeping the fight alive to end the siege and encouraged the crowd to be as active and vocal as possible.“When you see a good story on the news or read a positive story about Gaza, take a little time to write them or call them and let them know you appreciate it,” she said. “Why are we still allowing the occupation and the siege to go on? We are determined to get the aid to Gaza and with your help we will keep this issue alive and end the siege.”